Profile

Project Study of catechin and epicatechin electropolymerization as a new strategy to produce antiinfective surfaces

My project in the Gautrot lab focused on a collaborative research project between the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Alexandre José Macedo (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil) and Dr. Julien E. Gautrot. The aim of this project was to explore the design of novel biomimetic surfaces for application as antibacterial coatings. The chemistry studied included the electropolymerization of catechin and epicatechin (reaction mechanism investigation and characterization of the polymers). In addition, the reaction of catechin and epicatechin to PGMA brushes was explored. The antibacterial properties of catechin and epicatechin polymers and their ability to resist biofilm formation was evaluated, followed to cytotoxicity evaluation of the coatings on mammalian cells.

Interests: Travelling, swimming and movies.